The same digital technologies that enable freedom-of-choice can be used to build lucrative guest loyalty. NCR's Sherry Shirah, director of consumer engagement solutions, offers guidance into how the same technologies that empower consumers – mobile, social and location-based – can also help restaurants build loyalty. Sponsored.

Privacy and security are hot issues these days, fueled by high-profile data breaches affecting companies like Target, and closer to home, Wyndham Worldwide. Hotels are seeking ways to bolster privacy policies with scanning and monitoring procedures. Technology plays a part, but can only be effective when coupled with rigorous training and transparent guest communication.

Social media offers a sprawling, picture window view into consumer opinion, and hotels and restaurants have overwhelmingly joined the discussion. Managing social channels and the vast data they provide, however, is largely a manual, time intensive process. HT research has found that many hotels and restaurants struggle to measure and manage social activity; we anticipate social reputation management (SRM) technology will become increasingly important as the industry aims to build out integrations between social content and loyalty programs. In this special feature, HT talks to hotel and restaurant operators that are using SRM — including Domino's, Shangri-La Hotels and others — to get insight into the tools that are helping them manage and mine high-value social data.

Hospitality Technology's "2014 Customer Engagement Technology Study" tracks the use and effectiveness of mobile, location-based, and social technologies in hotels and restaurants. Highlights include implementation plans for 2015, and details on how hotels and restaurants are using mobile and digital technologies to engage guests. Want to know what features are available on restaurant mobile websites and mobile apps? Or how hotels are managing and measuring social media? These insights and more are inside!

Hospitality Technology's annual New Tech Showcase is the must-read supplement that covers new hardware, software and services for the lodging and foodservice industry. Download the 2015 New Tech Showcase for more information on these innovative solutions which include: the latest introductions in mobile POS technology; tablet-based solutions, new customer engagement platforms, cloud-based solutions, cross-platform mobile innovations, and more. Sponsored.